Quick disconnect mount

ABSTRACT

A quick disconnect mount includes a mounting stud securable to a structure, and a connector securable on the mounting stud. The mounting stud includes at least one circumferential ridge and at least one circumferential trough, and the connector includes a central channel sized to fit over the mounting stud and a locking bar engageable with the circumferential trough.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/596,932, filed Oct. 9, 2019, pending, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/743,009, filed Oct. 9, 2018,the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference in this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(NOT APPLICABLE)

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to mounting structure for securing support polesor the like to a boat deck and, more particularly, to a low-profilemounting assembly utilizing push-click installation and press-buttonremoval.

Existing mount systems typically utilize mounting brackets secured withtwo bolts and a locking pin securable through aligned holes in thebracket and support pole as shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 shows analternative prior art construction utilizing a ball and socket joint.Both existing assemblies are highly conspicuous and secure the lockingpins with unsightly lanyards as shown. Moreover, the existingconstructions may not adequately secure the support poles, resulting ininstability and potential rattling during use. The existing assembliesare also limited in rotatable displacement.

SUMMARY

It would be desirable to provide a quick disconnect mount utilizing alow-profile mounting stud and avoiding the use of unsightly pole pinswith hanging lanyards. The quick disconnect mount of the describedembodiments includes a low-profile mounting stud secured with a singleconnector to the boat deck. Connection and disconnection can be achievedwith one person using one hand. Additionally, the low-profile mountingstud can be screwed or bolted to the surface using a single drill hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, a quick disconnect mount includes a mountingstud securable to a structure, and a connector securable on the mountingstud. The mounting stud includes at least one circumferential ridge andat least one circumferential trough, and the connector includes acentral channel sized to fit over the mounting stud and a locking barengageable with the circumferential trough.

The at least one circumferential ridge may define a cam surface. Thelocking bar may be displaceable between an extended position and aretracted position, where the locking bar may be biased toward theextended position. The cam surface defined by the at least onecircumferential ridge may be positioned to displace the locking bar fromthe extended position to the retracted position as the connector ispositioned over the mounting stud. The quick disconnect mount mayfurther include a pushbutton cooperable with the locking bar that whendepressed displaces the locking bar from the extended position to theretracted position.

The connector may include an interior circumferential seal. Theconnector may include a pair of upright posts extending away from themounting stud that define a U-shaped channel. The connector further mayinclude a bushing positioned in the U-shaped channel. The connector maybe rotatable on the mounting stud across 360 degrees. The mounting studmay include a single through hole, and the quick disconnect mount mayfurther include a single connector extendable through the single throughhole.

In another exemplary embodiment, a support pole assembly includes asupport pole with a connecting end, and the quick disconnect mount ofthe described embodiments. The connecting end of the support pole isattached to the connector. The connector may include a pair of uprightposts extending away from the mounting stud that define a U-shapedchannel, where the connecting end of the support pole is secured in theU-shaped channel. In some embodiments, the support pole is pivotablerelative to the connector across at least 180 degrees, and the connectoris rotatable on the mounting stud across 360 degrees. The connector mayalso include a bushing positioned in the U-shaped channel, where theconnecting end of the support pole engages the bushing.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method of connecting a supportpole to a boat deck using the quick disconnect mount of the describedembodiments includes the steps of securing the support pole to theconnector; aligning the connector with the mounting stud; positioningthe connector over the mounting stud to a first position such that thecircumferential ridge displaces the locking bar from an extendedposition to a retracted position; and positioning the connector over themounting stud to a second position such that the locking bar isdisplaced into the extended position engaging the circumferentialtrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an existing mount system utilizing a mounting bracketsecured with two bolts and a locking pin;

FIG. 2 shows an alternative existing construction utilizing a ball andsocket joint;

FIG. 3 shows the low-profile mounting stud of the quick disconnect mountaccording to the described embodiments;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the connector of the quick disconnect mount inposition to engage the mounting stud;

FIGS. 6-8 show the connector engaging the mounting stud;

FIG. 9 shows the pushbutton pressed inward to disengage the connector;and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 3-6 , the quick disconnect mount of thedescribed embodiments includes a low-profile mounting stud 10 securableto a boat deck or other structure. That is, the mounting stud 10 can bescrewed or bolted to the structure via a single connector 15A extendablethrough a single through hole 15B. The mounting stud 10 includes atleast one circumferential ridge 12 and at least one circumferentialtrough 14.

The connector 16 includes a central channel 18 sized to fit over themounting stud 10. A seal 19 or the like may be positioned in the channel18. Locking structure 20 (described in more detail below) in the channelis coupled with a pushbutton 22 for engaging the trough 14 over theridge 12 of the mounting stud 10.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the connector 16. The locking structureincludes a locking bar 20 that is displaceable between an extendedposition and a retracted position. The locking bar 20 is biased towardthe extended position via a spring 23 or the like engaging thepushbutton 22. The locking bar 20 is integral with the pushbutton 22,and as such, displacing the pushbutton 22 against the force of thespring 23 serves to displace the locking bar 20 out of engagement withthe trough 14 of the mounting stud 10. The circumferential ridge 12 ofthe mounting stud 10 defines a cam surface. The cam surface defined bythe circumferential ridge 12 is positioned to displace the locking bar20 from the extended position to the retracted position as the connector16 is positioned over the mounting stud 10. In an alternativeconstruction, the locking bar 20 may include a cam surface.

To secure the connecting member 16, the channel 18 is aligned with themounting stud 10, and the connector 16 is simply pressed onto themounting stud 10. As noted, the ridge 12 acts as a cam surface todisplace the locking structure/bar 20 as the connector 16 is pressedonto the pin 10. See FIGS. 4-5 .

The connector 16 is shown secured to the mounting stud 10 in FIG. 6 .Once secured, the support pole SP is displaceable across greater than180°, and the connector 16 and support pole SP are 360° rotatable aroundthe mounting stud 10. The added degrees of freedom facilitateinstallation of a Bimini top or other structure supported on one or moreof the support poles SP.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 , in some embodiments, the connector 16may be provided with a bushing 24 formed of plastic or other pliablematerial. The connector 16 may be provided with a pair of upright posts26 extending away from the mounting stud 10. The upright posts 26 definea U-shaped channel 28. The bushing 24 may be positioned in the U-shapedchannel 28. The bushing 24 secures the end of the support pole SP,possibly but not necessarily in an interference fit, to provide for asecure connection and to substantially reduce or eliminate rattlingduring use.

With reference to FIG. 9 , removal of the connector 16 from mountingstud 10 is achieved by depressing the button 22 to displace/retract thelocking bar 20 from the mounting stud trough 14, and the connector 16can be simply lifted off the mounting stud 10.

With the structure of the described embodiments, when the poles areremoved, all that is left is a small low-profile mounting stud. Thisstructure avoids the use of unsightly pole pins with hanging lanyards.Connection and disconnection can be achieved with one person using onehand. The connectors can be secured anywhere the mounting stud can beattached including pontoon rails, fiberglass boat decks, and the like.The 360° swivel facilitates installation, and the greater than 180° ofangular displacement can accommodate any angle of the support pole goinginto the mount. The mounting stud can be screwed or bolted to thesurface using a single drill hole. The connector may be formed usingvarious materials, and the bushing may be a polymer sleeve.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of connecting a support pole to aboat deck using a quick disconnect mount having a mounting stud securedto the boat deck and a connector securable on the mounting stud, themounting stud including a circumferential ridge and a circumferentialtrough, and the connector including a central channel sized to fit overthe mounting stud and a locking bar engageable with the circumferentialtrough, the method comprising: (a) securing the support pole to theconnector; (b) aligning the connector with the mounting stud; (c)positioning the connector over the mounting stud to a first positionsuch that the circumferential ridge displaces the locking bar from anextended position to a retracted position; and (d) positioning theconnector over the mounting stud to a second position such that thelocking bar is displaced into the extended position engaging thecircumferential trough, wherein one of the circumferential ridge of themounting stud and the locking bar includes a cam surface, and whereinstep (c) is practiced by the cam surface displacing the locking bar asthe connector is positioned over the mounting stud.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising, prior to step (a), securing abushing to the connector, wherein step (a) is practiced by securing thesupport pole to the connector with the bushing interposed between thesupport pole and the connector.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the circumferential ridge of the mounting stud includes the camsurface.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locking bar isbiased toward the extended position by a spring, and wherein step (c) ispracticed by displacing the locking bar from the extended position tothe retracted position against the bias of the spring.
 5. A method ofconnecting a support pole to a boat deck using a quick disconnect mounthaving a mounting stud secured to the boat deck and a connectorsecurable on the mounting stud, the mounting stud including acircumferential ridge and a circumferential trough, and the connectorincluding a central channel sized to fit over the mounting stud and alocking bar engageable with the circumferential trough, the methodcomprising: (a) securing the support pole to the connector; (b) aligningthe connector with the mounting stud; (c) positioning the connector overthe mounting stud to a first position such that the circumferentialridge displaces the locking bar from an extended position to a retractedposition; and (d) positioning the connector over the mounting stud to asecond position such that the locking bar is displaced into the extendedposition engaging the circumferential trough, wherein the connectorincludes a push button connected to the locking bar, the method furthercomprising enabling the connector to be separated from the mounting studby depressing the push button and lifting the connector off of themounting stud.
 6. A method of using a quick disconnect mount, the methodcomprising: (a) securing a mounting stud to a structure, the mountingstud including at least one circumferential ridge and at least onecircumferential trough; (b) providing a connector including a centralchannel sized to fit over the mounting stud and a locking bar engageablewith the circumferential trough; (c) positioning the connector over themounting stud and displacing the locking bar from an extended positionto a retracted position; and (d) displacing the connector intoengagement with the mounting stud such that the locking bar is returnedto the extended position engaging the circumferential trough, whereinone of the circumferential ridge of the mounting stud and the lockingbar includes a cam surface, and wherein step (c) is practiced by the camsurface displacing the locking bar as the connector is positioned overthe mounting stud.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the quickdisconnect mount includes a push button cooperable with the locking bar,the method further comprising releasing the connector from engagementwith the mounting stud by depressing the push button to displace thelocking bar from the extended position to the retracted position.
 8. Themethod according to claim 6, wherein the at least one circumferentialridge defines the cam surface.
 9. The method according to claim 6,wherein the locking bar is biased toward the extended position by aspring, and wherein step (c) is practiced by displacing the locking baragainst a bias of the spring.
 10. The method according to claim 6,wherein the connector includes a pair of upright posts extending awayfrom the mounting stud, the upright posts defining a U-shaped channel,the method further comprising positioning a bushing positioned in theU-shaped channel.
 11. The method according to claim 6, wherein themounting stud includes a single through hole, the method furthercomprising extending a single connector through the single through hole.